Tasmania is a small island state in Australia and is well known for its incredible beaches, wildlife, national parks, and, well, everything nature-related.
It might be Australia’s smallest state, but it certainly packs a punch and you’ll find there are plenty of great places to visit in Tasmania.
With historic towns, World Heritage Listed wilderness areas, pristine beaches, rugged coastline, gorgeous mountains, hiking, wildlife, and a terrific food and wine industry – there are so many destinations to add to your Tasmania itinerary.
But if you’re not sure where to visit or what places to check out, don’t worry, as we have all the top places in Tasmania to visit below!
- Getting Around Tasmania
- How Long To Spend in Tasmania?
- Places to Visit in Tasmania
- 1. Hobart
- 2. Richmond
- 3. Port Arthur
- 4. Bruny Island
- 5. Coles Bay
- 6. Freycinet National Park
- 7. Bay of Fires
- 8. Binalong Bay
- 9. Bicheno
- 10. Strahan
- 11. Corinna
- 12. Penguin
- 13. Cradle Mountain
- 14. Launceston (& Cataract Gorge)
- 15. Evandale
- 16. Brickendon Estate
- 17. The Tamar Valley
- 18. Liffey Falls
- 19. Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Cafe, Elizabeth Town
- 20. Maria Island
- 21. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
- 22. Tessellated Pavement
- 23. Three Capes Track
- 24. Mount Field National Park
- Before You Go
Getting Around Tasmania
But first, let’s quickly talk about how to get to these places in Tasmania so you can start mapping out your itinerary.
We took our car over from Melbourne on the Spirit of Tasmania car ferry and spent a month driving around Tasmania. If you don’t take your own car, you can simply fly in and grab a rental car from the airport.
Doing a road trip is the best way to explore this Australian island.
Of course, you can fly in and just visit Hobart or Launceston over the weekend, but you would be missing out on the BEST of Tasmania. Our biggest tip for visiting Tasmania is to make sure you have plenty of time to see it… and do a road trip if you can.
How Long To Spend in Tasmania?
Give Tassie at least a week, this is the least amount of time you need to see the highlights and top destinations. If you have time to spare, we recommend you give it three weeks, if you can, and get to know as many of the below places as possible.
Even though it’s a small state it does take longer to drive around than you’d anticipate, so don’t rush. In fact, we recommend you slow down so you can take more in.
Places to Visit in Tasmania
Now you know how to get around and how much time to set aside, it’s time to introduce to you the top places to visit in Tasmania to add to your itinerary.
Below you will find everywhere you need to see and tips for some of the most fun things to do in Tasmania.
1. Hobart
Hobart is charming, inviting, walkable, and one of Australia’s oldest cities with lots to do in and around the area – we spent 6 days here.
The history is still alive with its 19th Century sandstone warehouses that now serve as cafes, restaurants, and artists’ studios. Quaint cottages and colonial mansions are all over the small city.
And then there is the backdrop of Mount Wellington rising above the city and the River Derwent racing through its heart. Get a dash of history by wandering around the historic harbour, Battery Point, and Salamanca.
And of course, there is the incredible Museum of Old (MONA Museum) which has some of the best modern and new art in its exhibits.
Need a place to stay in Hobart? We stayed at the Salamanca Inn and enjoyed the location and apartment-style accommodation. Find more accommodation in Hobart here.
2. Richmond
Historic Richmond is a lovely small town within easy reach of Hobart (25 km northeast) to spend a few hours exploring the historic sites. We took a stroll along the river before grabbing a bite to eat at the Richmond Arms Hotel, followed by coffee and cake at the popular bakery.
Richmond is home to Australia’s oldest bridge (built in 1825) and Australia’s oldest Roman Catholic church, St John’s. You can also check out the Richmond Gaol and just wander around town looking at the numerous heritage-listed buildings.
If you like food and wine, you might like a Richmond food and wine half-day tour from Hobart.
3. Port Arthur
Looking for history, drama, beauty, and sadness? Port Arthur is where you’ll find it in spades. Port Arthur has a violent and troubled history as a penal colony for some of Australia’s hardened convicts.
It’s one of the best things to do in Tassie and if you’re based in Hobart it’s accessible via a day trip. And for a great bite to eat on the way, don’t miss the Doo-Lishus food truck at nearby Eaglehawk Neck for the best fish and chips in Tasmania, plus homemade scallops, rabbit, and venison pies.
Get your tickets for the ghost tour in advance (one of my favorite Port Arthur experiences).
If you need to take a tour from Hobart to visit Port Arthur, check out this tour here.
4. Bruny Island
Ruggedly beautiful with towering sea cliffs and deep sea caves, fur seals, fairy penguins, an abundance of bird life and if you’re visiting in the right season, the opportunity to see migrating whales.
Bruny Island is an easy day trip from Hobart, and the best way to experience Bruny if you only have half a day is with local legend Rob Pennicott from Pennicott Wilderness Journeys.
This is the tour we took with Rob Pennicott. It’s one of the best tours we did in Australia.
5. Coles Bay
Coles Bay is set in a spectacular location with uninterrupted views of the red and pink granite peaks known as The Hazards.
It’s a small town with a few shops and cafes – don’t miss Tombolo Restaurant and coffee bar for great coffee + wood-fired pizzas with stunning views.
This town is mostly known as the gateway to Freycinet National Park (our favourite place in Tasmania). Nearby Honeymoon Bay is brilliant and you should consider going kayaking in the beautiful bay.
We could easily spend a week based here exploring Freycinet and all its walks.
Need accommodation in Freycinet? Check out these great places to stay!
6. Freycinet National Park
One of our top three in our list of 25 National Parks in Australia to set foot in. Freycinet is spectacular, a peninsular of pink granite mountains, pure white beaches, coastal dues, and dry eucalypt forest.
Within this peninsular is the famous Wineglass Bay – a beach consistently rated as one of the world’s best. Three pink granite peaks – the Hazard mountains – rise dramatically, protecting the bay from the infiltration of humanity.
It’s said to be an incredible place to view the sunrise.
And Hazards Beach is a beach that is pure, remote, desolate, peaceful, and breathtaking.
Both those beaches feature in our list of the best beaches in Australia. Freycinet is a 2.5-hour drive from Hobart.
7. Bay of Fires
On the north east coast of Tasmania, the Bay of Fires is a region of pristine white beaches, blue water, and these incredible rock formations (orange-hued granite) in which the colour is produced by a lichen.
It’s widely regarded as one of the most beautiful places in Tasmania. And we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves.
It’s a two and a half hour’s drive from Launceston, or base yourself in St Helens or Binalong Bay.
Read more: Introducing the Bay of Fires
8. Binalong Bay
Binalong Bay is a small coastal town situated at the southern end of the Bay of Fires.
Once you’ve photographed the Bay of Fires and played on the beach at Binalong, be sure to hit up the Binalong Bay Cafe for great coffee and delicious desserts, complete with an awesome view of the beach.
9. Bicheno
We only stopped for lunch in Bicheno but wished we’d planned a night. The beach is a pleasant surprise, just beautiful, as is the coastal walk around the rocky headland overlooking the bay.
The town is primarily a fishing port popular with holidaymakers and retirees for its mild climate and sunny weather. Bicheno is also a well-known place for seeing fairy penguins.
10. Strahan
Getting to Strahan on the west coast of Tassie involves a decent half to a full day of driving (depending on where you’re coming from) but it’s definitely worth the effort.
Strahan is a small port town with one of the best sunsets we have ever seen anywhere, and from where we did our cruise down the famous World Heritage Gordon River, one of the highlights of our month in Tassie.
Read more: A day to remember on the Gordon River
11. Corinna
Remote, quiet, small, and a true wilderness experience that’s Corinna.
It’s a former mining town on the banks of the Pieman river and at the end of the Tarkine (the largest temperate rainforest in Australia) and the northernmost point where the famous Huon pine grows.
Stay in a rustic cottage, walk amongst the rainforest, kayak down the river, or take a cruise on the historic Arcadia II. Access to Corinna is by barge boat (if coming from Strahan) and is a unique experience in Tasmania away from mass tourism.
12. Penguin
Situated on the shores of Bass Strait, Penguin is the best town to base yourself on to explore the northwest region of Tasmania.
We really enjoyed the vibe of the town, Kalyra liked the big Penguin dressed in a Santa suit, and the local markets were a hit with Caz.
Don’t miss the nearby Turners Beach Berry Patch (great for the kids), Hellyers Road Distillery in Burnie, the Nut in Stanley, and the coastal drive to Ulverstone.
We stayed at the Penguin Waterfront Escape Apartments right in the centre of town with awesome views over Bass Strait.
13. Cradle Mountain
One of the most iconic destinations in Tasmania, Cradle Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known as the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.
There are over 20 different self-guided walking tracks, ranging from 20 minutes to 9 hours, including the world-famous Overland Track, a magnificent 6-day walk that takes you through the heart of some of the finest mountain terrain.
This area is also great for spotting wombats in the wild all year round, they even like rolling around in the snow. Cradle Mountain is 1.5 hour’s drive from Devonport or 2.5 hours from Launceston.
If you don’t have your own car, you can take this tour from Launceston out to Cradle Mountain.
14. Launceston (& Cataract Gorge)
There’s not a whole lot going on in Launceston itself, but it’s a great base to explore some excellent places nearby, and it’s also the cheapest city to fly into from the Australian mainland.
Once you’ve had breakfast at Fresh cafe, seen City Park, the James Boags Brewery, and done the Saturday Harvest Market, the best nearby attraction is the beautiful Cataract Gorge, which is known for its wild hiking trails and swimming pool.
The Gorge, as the locals call it, is just outside of town. It’s hard to believe such a beautiful gorge exists merely minutes from the city centre, no wonder it’s a local favorite.
Take in one of the leisurely walking or hiking trails, or jump on the world’s longest single-span chairlift, go abseiling, and spot wildlife.
Click play to see the video of Cataract Gorge.
15. Evandale
When you arrive in Evandale you feel as if time has been wound back 100 years. It’s a National Trust-classified Georgian village with unspoiled heritage buildings making it a popular place for tourists and easily accessible from Launceston. Clarendon House, just outside of the village, is said to be one of Australia’s greatest Georgian houses.
We devoured a coffee and cake at the Ingleside Licensed Bakery Cafe located inside the old Council chambers built in 1867. Sit in the pretty courtyard bursting with flowers or, in the winter, by the cozy fire inside.
16. Brickendon Estate
Brickendon Estate is a convict World Heritage Site near Launceston, and Brickendon’s uniqueness lies in the fact that it is still a lived-in and working farm with a rich Australian history of convicts and free settlers working together and a landscape that remains virtually untouched for 200 years.
Smokehouses and ovens, outhouses, and shearing sheds can still be explored and the old blacksmith shop is left as it was in the 1930s. You can stay over at Brickendon in historic cottages and rustic cabins. Sit by an open fire and wake up to stunning views overlooking the paddocks.
Click play on the video below to see more about Brickendon Estate
17. The Tamar Valley
Just 10 minutes drive north of Launceston brings you to The Tamar Valley, a wine region known (secretly) as one of the best wine regions in Australia. The Essential Travel magazine (UK) named the Tamar Valley Wine Route as “One of the top 10 wine routes in the world”.
The cool climate the area enjoys is perfect for producing high-quality and elegant wines, so be sure to check out some of the wineries and vineyards and enjoy a crisp Aussie Sauvignon Blanc.
Our favourites were at Ninth Island and Moores Hill. There are plenty of local pubs, restaurants, and cafes scattered along the area including our favourite the Ilk cafe.
And don’t miss the Tamar Island Wetlands Walk.
Click play to see our visit to Moores Hill Winery
18. Liffey Falls
There is a hot debate amongst Tasmanian as to what is the best waterfall in Tasmania: Liffey Falls or Russel Falls in the south of the island? We didn’t get to Russel Falls, but we can recommend you go see Liffey.
This is another one of Tassies World Heritage Areas, and a 40-minute walk in the forest will bring you to Liffey Falls within the Liffey Falls State Reserve, an area of cool temperate rainforest, featuring myrtle, sassafras, and leatherwood on the slopes of the Great Western Tiers.
19. Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Cafe, Elizabeth Town
No, not a town, but almost a destination in itself. When we asked our Facebook followers for tips on things to see and do in Tassie, so many of them recommended the Raspberry Farm Cafe and said we must go there.
The Raspberry Farm also came recommended highly by the locals we met on the ground in Tassie, so we did and gorged ourselves on chocolate and raspberry mud cake, lemon tarts, and scones. My fave was the mud cake with raspberries:
The stone and timber café overlooks lush green lawns running down to a lake filled with water lilies. The garden features native trees and a herb garden overlooking the raspberry canes in the distance.
Other foodie stops worth considering nearby include Ashgrove Cheese in Elizabeth Town (handmade and award-winning), and for the total chocolate experience visit the House of Anvers in Latrobe (try the Aztec hot chocolate).
20. Maria Island
Perhaps one of the most unique places to visit in Tasmania is the painted cliffs of Maria Island.
Maria Island is just off the east coast of Tasmania and is a nature lover’s paradise. For one thing, there are no cars on the island, so you can enjoy being on a remote, nature-run island without the spoils of city life.
The most famous landmark on the island is the Painted Cliffs. The cliff’s face has elegantly, naturally made swirls of yellows, oranges, and reds in its rock.
The beautiful natural phenomenon is the result of groundwater percolating that occurred millions of years ago.
The patterned rocks are fragile and continuously change by the waves and weathering.
21. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
One of the top reasons to visit Tasmania is to see the wildlife. If you’re patient, you can see wildlife all around Tassie in the national parks and in remote areas, but if you don’t have time to spend waiting, the best place to see native animals is at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.
Unlike zoos, Bonorong is a rescue center where visitors can get close viewings of endangered native animals who are being rehabilitated at the center.
Some animals get to be released back into the wild, but some are unable to survive in the wild and stay at the sanctuary.
Bonorong is the biggest sanctuary in Tasmania and is home to several native animals, such as Tasmania Devils, wombats, quolls, koalas, kangaroos, lizards, snakes, and emus.
22. Tessellated Pavement
Located an hour out of Hobart is another unique place to visit in Tasmania, known for its unusual natural phenomenon.
The Tessellated Pavement is a tile-like appearance that occurs on the rocks by the water. This natural, geographic site is not only a cool site for photographers but a thriving rock pool full of crabs and other marine life.
The rocks are easy to see from a viewpoint by the car park, but you can also walk down to the rocks by taking some several steps to the bottom.
The rocks are equally as impressive up close!
23. Three Capes Track
We told you that Tasmania was for nature lovers, and to prove our point, there is the Three Capes Track hike. It’s a four-day, 48km hike that takes you past some of the most incredible nature spots, including dramatic coastal cliffs, wild bushes and dense eucalypt forests.
You’ll pass by Australia’s highest sea cliffs, and be completely cut off in the wilderness. Bliss!
But don’t worry, this trail has been designed to be an achievable experience for all ages and abilities, and has been mostly pathed.
You don’t need to worry about pitching a tent either, as there are several eco-friendly cabins along the way to stay at. These cabins are conveniently located so you can easily break up each day of the hike.
24. Mount Field National Park
As one of Tasmania’s oldest national parks, anyone looking for destinations to visit in Tassie should definitely make sure to visit Mount Field National Park.
The park has a diverse landscape, with natural flora that changes depending on the altitude. Because of this, it’s often known as ‘the park for all seasons.’
You’ll also find some of the world’s tallest eucalypt forests in the national park, as well as glaciated landscapes, cascading waterfalls, and the sprawling Lake Dobson.
Be sure to visit the three-tiered Russell Falls, which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Tasmania.
Before You Go
So there you have it, those are the top places to visit in Tasmania and as you can see, there are a lot of great places to visit!
Before you go, we highly recommend you book your accommodation in advance. Tasmania doesn’t have a huge amount of good accommodation options so don’t leave it to the last minute.
Booking.com has 600 properties in Tasmania including hotels, apartments, and hostels. You get free cancellation on most rooms and you can see previous guest reviews so you know what you’re getting into.
And above all, have the best time exploring Tasmania!
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What places in Tasmania would you add to this list? Please share in the comments below.
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